Chapter 24: Boss Qin! You Can

Wang Hongyuan's threatening phone call was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, sparking intense reactions within Qin Feng's core team.

Sun Zhe immediately sprang into action, like a general on the eve of battle, mobilizing all resources of Xingyao Capital and Xingyao Department Store to fortify defenses and plug vulnerabilities; all contracts with partners were re-examined, financial flows were tightly monitored, and information security was raised to the highest level. He even tapped into undisclosed channels to closely track abnormal fund movements and personnel shifts within Hongyuan Group and its affiliated enterprises.

Su Wenqian acted like a cold-blooded assassin, categorizing and organizing the evidence she held—on Hongyuan Group's unsavory business practices and Wang Hongyuan's own gray-area activities—into a set of poisoned daggers, waiting only for Qin Feng's command to strike with precision.

The entire team operated like a highly efficient and precise war machine, spinning silently under a tense atmosphere heavy with the coming storm.

Yet Qin Feng, at the eye of the storm, after his initial cold fury, appeared unusually calm, even redirecting most of his focus back to the newly unlocked 【Technology Core】.

He spent nearly the entire day in the private laboratory at Yunding Mansion, studying the twelve ancient artifacts, attempting to guide the 【Technology Core】 to perform deeper analysis on them.

【Analyzing target: Unknown civilization's Bronze Navigator wreckage... Analysis progress: 0.1%... 0.2%...】

【Analysis cost: 1 Tech Point/hour. Insufficient Tech Points will automatically consume the Host's bioelectric energy, potentially causing mild fatigue.】

【Tech Points: 0. Acquisition methods: Absorb items containing the 【Source Technology Imprint】, complete system tasks, achieve major breakthroughs in already mastered technologies.】

The analysis progress was excruciatingly slow, and without Tech Points, it consumed his own bioelectric energy. Although the 5% Life Energy he replenished had significantly strengthened his base, after hours of continuous use, he still felt a growing spiritual fatigue.

"It's clear that relying solely on this little 'Imprint' and my own energy won't allow me to rapidly decode the full technology," Qin Feng rubbed his temples. "I must find more items containing the 'Imprint,' or... find a way to push existing technologies to breakthrough, earning 'Tech Points.'"

He thought of Deep Blue Power, Dimension Tech, and Light-Year Materials. If he could accelerate R&D in these projects and achieve phased results, he might earn his first batch of Tech Points.

At that moment, Sun Zhe entered, knocking solemnly on the door.

"Boss, Hongyuan Group has started moving," Sun Zhe handed Qin Feng a Tablet Computer. "They're using connections and funds to create trouble on both upstream and downstream fronts. Three previously agreed-upon main suppliers for Xingyao Department Store suddenly demanded renegotiation of contracts, demanding higher prices; two long-term logistics partners hinted at needing increased fees under the excuse of tight capacity; even our new mall's fire inspection in the eastern district has been mysteriously stalled."

Qin Feng glanced at the report on the Tablet Computer, his expression utterly unruffled. These were all common commercial pressure tactics—Wang Hongyuan had indeed chosen to strike at Xingyao Department Store's traditional business, attempting to sever his cash flow and operational chain.

"Expected," Qin Feng set down the Tablet. "Follow the contingency plan. If suppliers demand price hikes, activate backup suppliers or go straight to the source factories. If logistics are problematic, deploy our partially owned new logistics company. Fire inspection... have Lawyer Chen handle communications; if necessary, escalate directly to higher authorities."

"Yes, Boss," Sun Zhe nodded, but the worry in his brow remained. "We can handle all this. But I'm afraid Wang Hongyuan still has hidden moves. According to rumors we've received, he might... resort to dirty tactics—targeting you personally, or Assistant Su, me, or other core members."

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened instantly. He feared no business competition—but if the opponent dared play dirty, crossing his bottom line...

He paused, then a flash of resolve lit his eyes: "It seems passive defense and conventional commercial countermeasures won't make Wang Hongyuan feel any pain."

He picked up the internal phone and directly dialed Su Wenqian: "Sister Su, select some of the evidence we compiled on Hongyuan Group's attempt to monopolize property rights and disrupt market order in the 'Qinghe Garden' project, along with audio clips of Wang Hongyuan's private contacts with approval officials. Pick out the less sensitive but most impactful portions, and anonymously send them to a few media outlets we're close to, and the city's Business Environment Supervision Office."

"Boss!" Su Wenqian and Sun Zhe shouted in unison.

Su Wenqian's voice was filled with unprecedented urgency: "Boss! You can't! Once this evidence is released, it's an irreversible break with Wang Hongyuan—no turning back! And some of these involve... gray-area operations—we're not entirely clean ourselves; this could backfire and burn us too!"

Sun Zhe quickly added: "Yes, Boss! Business is about fighting without breaking ties. We're currently on the defensive, but our foundation remains intact—we can still maneuver through other means. This direct confrontation is too risky! Wang Hongyuan holds grudges; if pushed too far, he'll do anything!"

The fierce opposition from his two right-hand men was expected. Traditional business wisdom told them to leave room for retreat, to avoid mutual destruction.

But Qin Feng was no longer a traditional businessman.

He possessed a system, a key to glimpsing future technologies—his stage was the stars and oceans. Wang Hongyuan and Hongyuan Group were merely stumbling blocks on his path to the summit—annoying ones, yes, but still just stumbling blocks.

He had neither the time nor the interest to engage in prolonged, pointless maneuvering with a stumbling block.

Qin Feng stood up, his gaze calm yet radiating undeniable authority as he swept over Su Wenqian and Sun Zhe.

"I understand your concerns. By conventional logic, this shouldn't be done."

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling, complex city below, his voice low but each word weighing a thousand catties:

"But he was the one who broke the rules first—using lowlife tactics to threaten the people around me."

"He's the one who failed to recognize the situation, thinking I'm still a player bound by their outdated game rules."

Qin Feng turned around, his eyes sharp as blades, as if piercing through all fog.

"Since he chose war, I'll teach him a lesson in the way he understands best—absolute power."

"Some tables aren't meant for him to sit at. I've overturned it—and that's final."

"Is it difficult?"

Su Wenqian and Sun Zhe stared at Qin Feng's calm yet overwhelmingly confident and authoritative figure, hearing that familiar question—all their objections died in their throats.

They suddenly realized their Boss had already reached a height they could not fathom. They were still thinking how to win a business war; their Boss was thinking how to crush an insolent challenger.

"I... understand, Boss," Su Wenqian took a deep breath, her eyes hardening again. "I'll handle it immediately."

"Yes, Boss," Sun Zhe nodded firmly, a spark of fervor flashing in his eyes. Following a Boss like this—perhaps this was how legends were truly witnessed!

Watching the two leave to carry out their orders, Qin Feng turned his gaze once more toward the laboratory.

The public-opinion counterattack was merely an appetizer.

His true "surprise" prepared for Wang Hongyuan lay with the 【Technology Core】.

Two days? Maybe not even that long.